What do you get when you cross a macaron and an Anzac biscuit? A delightful treat that our dedicated conductor Paul Holley coined a ‘MacZac’. Not only were they delicious but they also represented the wonderful things that happen when two great cultures (the French and Australian) come together.

This will be our last blog as part of our France trip so we thought we’d share some of our fun pics from the tour, of course with a clip of what we do best – singing.

It’s been a massive week, which culminated in Anzac Day. After The Australian Service at the ‘Digger’ Memorial on Saturday we headed back to Bullecourt for drinks. The choir decided to sing The Parting Glass in a toast to Vicky and Estelle from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Enjoy!

Singing this song was a chance to show appreciation for this experience and one we have not taken lightly! We’ve met some great people and this includes our fellow performers from The Royal Australian Navy Band.

Chorister Isabelle Fassbind making friends with Robbie Sandner from The Royal Australian Navy Band.

Back-tracking to Friday – here are a few pics from the Mayoral Reception in Amiens. Here we shared a ‘glass of friendship’ and the macaron and Anzac biscuit combination, ‘The MacZac’ was released. The ‘MacZac’…it has a ring to it!

The choir enjoys drinks at the Mayoral Reception, Amiens.The delicious ‘MacZac’ . This could really take off!The creator of the MacZac: “They’ve been such a hit…send for more!”

On Sunday we headed back to Paris for our final performance. We stopped briefly and look what Izzy found in a packet – they really do have everything in France. ‘Happy Life’ lollies…all of life’s happiness found in a packet!

So convenient to be able to take happiness with you!Isabelle Fassbind finds the secret to a ‘happy life’ …it’s in a packet!

When in France! Just in case you were wondering what they looked like – here are some frogs legs! Emily ordered these for lunch before the final concert. Apparently they tasted like chicken.

Frogs legs. Delicious!

Upon arriving in Paris on Sunday we had our final concert, this time with the stunning Ensemble Mangata at the magnificent Saint Eugène Sainte Cécile. It was incredible! Check out some of the pics here.

The choir savours every last moment of performing, which includes some backstage pics!This time they have a photo bomber, baby Emily!The choir performs their final concert at Saint Eugène Sainte Cécile.

Our final concert, this time with the stunning Ensemble Mangata at the magnificent Saint Eugène Sainte Cécile.

With the final concert completed, the Voices of Birralee Anzac Commemoration Choir will this week head back to Australia.

It’s been a fantastic trip creating lots of wonderful memories and we were delighted to not only share our passion for singing (internationally!), we were also humbled to be part of such a significant event as performing at Villers-Bretenneux for the Anzac Day dawn service and the Australian Service at the ‘Digger’ Memorial, Bullecourt.

With a number of our choristers having relatives who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force, it was a truly unique opportunity to be part of the services in France. We feel so privileged to have been able to acknowledge all those who have served and who fell in defence of our nation, through what we love – singing.

The Anzac Day experience was matched with wonderful concerts where we were made so welcome by local communities and met so many interesting people.

It’s been an amazing experience for each of our choristers and we’d like to thank the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for giving us this opportunity, the friends and families of all the choristers involved and everyone else who has supported us over the past few months. It’s been a wonderful effort by everyone involved.

We can’t wait for next year!

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Published by Voices of Birralee

Voices of Birralee, one of Australia’s foremost youth arts organisations, is a Brisbane-based non-profit child and youth choral organisation founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julie Christiansen, OAM. It comprises nine ensembles, which have attained a remarkable level of professionalism and are highly acclaimed by national and international audiences.
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